变形金刚：基础课
在本集《基础课》里 In this episode of The Basics,
我们的话题将要聚焦在 we're going to turn the spotlight
IDW漫画篇
IDW出版社的变形金刚系列漫画上 on IDW Publishing's series of Transformers comic books.
该公司出版变形金刚漫画 The company has been publishing Transformers titles
至今已经差不多有十二年了 for nearly twelve years at this point -
在持有变形金刚授权的漫画出版商里连载历时最久 the longest run of any comic book publisher to hold the license -
特别是在过去的几年里 and in the last few years in particular,
这一系列漫画开始赢得了主流漫画资讯媒体 they've begun to garner a lot more attention
英国《卫报》专题文章 《吻我，郭文：变形金刚寻求和平及同性关系之路》
越来越多的关注 from mainstream comics press,
Comic Alliance网站 2016年度最佳科幻漫画—— 《变形金刚：非凡之旅（MTMTE）》
吸引了一大批新粉丝成为读者 leading to a lot of new fans checking them out,
并发现这些漫画 and finding them to be a gateway
是通往变形金刚庞大宇宙的一扇门 to the larger Transformers universe.
不过十多年积攒起来的漫画篇章 But over a decade's worth of comics
从外观上看还是相当可观的 can look pretty imposing from the outside,
所以本集就来为大家详细地介绍一下 so this episode is going to break it down for you,
并给出一些阅读切入点选择的建议 and give you some advice on where to start.
IDW出版了大多数变形金刚主流系列的关联漫画 IDW have published titles tied in with most major Transformer series,
包括野兽纪元、真人电影、08动画 including the Beast Era, the live-action movies, Animated,
以及联合宇宙的动画和游戏相关漫画等等 the various cartoons and games of the Aligned continuity, and more.
但是这些都并非我们今天要讲的—— But those are all separate from what we're here to talk about -
IDW主线宇宙 the MAIN IDW universe,
这个世界观体系是该公司在持有授权许可期间 the continuity in which the majority of their comics
出版的大多数漫画里构建起来的 have been set for the entirety of their tenure.
IDW宇宙被简洁地划分为了两个“阶段” The IDW universe splits neatly into two "phases," as they call them.
“第一阶段”是整个故事的开始 PHASE 1 is where everything starts.
尽管最初的出版计划是打算延续 Though initial plans existed to continue the stories
上一个持有授权的出版社—— begun in the comics published by the previous license holder,
中途倒闭的Dreamwave出版社的漫画故事 Dreamwave Productions, who went out of business mid-stream,
但最终还是决定让IDW宇宙 it was eventually decided that the IDW Universe
成为一个完完全全重新开始的故事—— would be a complete and total fresh start -
这次对G1宇宙和G1人物的重启 a rebooting of the Generation 1 universe and its characters
规模空前庞大 to an extent that had never been seen before,
堪与漫威的“终极”系列漫画比肩 comparable in scope and tone to Marvel Comics' "Ultimate" series of titles.
运用了现代的电影手法 A modernized, cinematic approach that
来从头到尾重新包装 throughout the classic backstory of
四百万年前博狂两派降临地球这个传统的背景故事 the Autobots and Decepticons arriving on Earth 4 million years ago
更多的笔墨落在了“机器人在伪装”的概念 and emphasised the concept of "robots in disguise"
讲述他们隐藏在人类中间 在地球上秘密地战斗着—— hiding among humanity, fighting in secret on Earth -
几年后的真人电影系列也是同样的做法！ all several years before the live-action movie would do the same!
变形金刚资深编剧西蒙·福尔曼 Longtime Transformers writer Simon Furman
是这一全新宇宙的总架构师 was the chief architect of this new universe,
整个宇宙并不是通过单一的连载线来呈现 which took shape not through a single ongoing comic book,
而是通过一系列连续的短篇系列来塑造 but a run of continuing mini-series,
以《隐蔽行动》开篇 beginning with TRANSFORMERS: INFILTRATION,
后续有《狂风煞》、 and continuing into STORMBRINGER,
《升级行动》、 ESCALATION,
《毁灭行动》和《决战死亡宇宙》 DEVASTATION, and REVELATION.
它们合在一起讲述了 Together, these told the story of
变形金刚们争夺13号矿的故事 the Transformers' fight over Ore-13,
13号矿是深藏在地球上的一种能力超凡的超能量 a super-powerful version of energon hidden on Earth,
以及浮现出的双重威胁： and the emergent twin threats of
麦克尼什：—个人类组织 the Machination, a human organization
企图将人类与变形金刚结合为一体 attempting to fuse people and Transformers together,
译注：即开发头领战士技术。
以及死亡宇宙： and the Dead Universe,
一群活死人变形金刚所在的平行宇宙 a parallel reality of undead Transformers
他们企图将仍存在生命的宇宙吸纳进去 that sought to absorb the living universe into it.
为主线故事作补充的 Supplementing the main story
则是《支线》单篇系列 was series of TRANSFORMERS: SPOTLIGHT one-shots,
每册均用一篇个人故事来重点刻画一个变形金刚人物 each shining a light on a single Transformer in a solo story,
同时还有重点讲述威震天起源故事的短篇系列 as well as a mini-series focusing on the origins of Megatron,
以及与漫威复仇者们的联动短篇 and a crossover with Marvel's Avengers.
福尔曼的连载不幸在中途夭折 Furman's run was brought to a premature end,
他在《机器恐龙所向无敌》短篇中 and while he tied up his loose ends
为诸多线索做收尾的同时 in the mini-series MAXIMUM DINOBOTS,
编剧尚恩·麦卡锡在第一阶段的第二节参与进来 writer Shane McCarthy ushered in the second stage of Phase 1
创作了12集的长篇系列《威震天万岁》 with his 12-issue maxi-series ALL HAIL MEGATRON.
情节设定在福尔曼连载剧情结束的一年之后 Set one year after the events of Furman's stories,
该系列讲述了 this series told the tale of
狂派对地球的全面入侵 a full-scale Decepticon invasion of Earth,
而博派则被困于塞伯坦 with the Autobots stranded on Cybertron
无能为力 and powerless to do anything.
故事风格大体可以概括为 Charitably summarized as
“不如把G1动画当作真人电影来写吧” "what if G1 cartoon, but also live-action movie?",
《威震天万岁》时期也补充了更多的《支线》单篇 ALL HAIL was supplemented by further spotlight one-shots,
还包括一个短篇系列 as well as a showcase mini-series
展现了麦卡锡的原创角色“漂移” for McCarthy's original character Drift.
接续《威震天万岁》篇的 ALL HAIL was followed by the launch
则是IDW首个变形金刚长篇连载系列 of IDW's first ongoing Transformers series,
标题就是《变形金刚》 titled just that: THE TRANSFORMERS.
译注：国内简称为“OM系列（国外对该系列的称呼Ongoing Missions的缩写）”。
由麦克·科斯塔编剧 Written by Mike Costa,
故事设定在《威震天万岁》事件发生两年后 it was set a further two years after the events of ALL HAIL,
看透现实的擎天柱 and saw a disillusioned Optimus Prime
辞去了博派领袖的职位 step down from Autobot leadership.
随之而来的是 Following a period of conflict
热破和大黄蜂争夺指挥权的一段冲突时期 in which Hot Rod and Bumblebee vied for command,
博派最终在大黄蜂的领导下重新团结起来 the Autobots eventually united under Bumblebee,
并与人类维和部队“天眼”联手 and allied with the human peacekeeping force Skywatch
抵御狂派的卷土重来 to combat the return of the Decepticons.
第一阶段里同期的短篇 Companion mini-series for this era of Phase 1
还有大黄蜂和铁皮的单人短篇系列 included spotlight mini-series for Bumblebee and Ironhide,
以及《雷霆拯救令》 and the LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS,
在该篇中 这支有名的博派突击队 in which the titular Autobot commando team
受命去执行一项任务—— were sent on a mission
从某名最穷凶极恶的狂派手中 to liberate a captured prison
解放一座被占领的监狱 from one of the worst Decepticons around.
《雷霆拯救令》由深受迷友喜爱的编剧尼克·罗什 LAST STAND paired fan-favourite writer Nick Roche
和新人詹姆斯·罗伯茨共同执笔 with newcomer James Roberts,
后者随后还编写了两集OM系列的剧本 who went on to script two issues on the ongoing series,
译注：即OM系列的第22、23两集，故事标题为“混沌理论（Chaos Theory）”。
并与科斯塔一同创作了“混沌”篇章 and partnered with Costa on "CHAOS",
这一故事线是OM系列的终结篇 the story arc that concluded the series,
主要展现了死亡宇宙的回归 featuring the return of the Dead Universe,
以及博狂大战的终结 and the end of the Autobot/Decepticon war.
作为过渡的单集篇《擎天柱之死》 The transitional one-shot THE DEATH OF OPTIMUS PRIME
令连载从科斯塔系列的终结 led from the end of Costa's series
步入了第二阶段的开始 into the beginning of PHASE 2.
第二阶段正值近些年来 Phase 2 is in the era which has garnered Transformers comics
变形金刚漫画广受赞誉的时期 the notable praise they've been receiving in the last few years,
时至今日仍在连载中 and is still ongoing today.
这一阶段从2012年正式开始 This era launched in earnest in 2012
分为两个独立的连载主线： with two separate ongoing titles:
由詹姆斯·罗伯茨和亚力克斯·米尔恩创作的《非凡之旅（简称MTMTE）》 James Roberts and Alex Milne's MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
以及由约翰·巴伯和安德鲁·格里菲斯创作的《混乱之治（简称RID）》 and John Barber and Andrew Griffith's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE.
战后的塞伯坦 With the war over and Cybertron
沦为了一片原始的荒土 reduced to a primordial wasteland,
MTMTE系列追随着补天士 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE followed Rodimus
和星际飞船寻光号上的船员们 and the crew of the starship Lost Light
踏上征程去追寻 as they set off on a quest
传说中的塞伯坦骑士团 for the potentially-mythical Knights of Cybertron,
而RID系列则重点讲述 while ROBOTS IN DISGUISE focused on
留在塞伯坦的大黄蜂 Bumblebee as he stayed on Cybertron
与由博派、狂派 and tried to rebuild the planet
和回归的无派别金刚们组成的新政府 with a new government made up of Autobots, Decepticons,
一起努力重建母星的故事 and the returning unaffiliated Transformers.
在连载的中途 Partway into their runs,
MTMTE系列引入了 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE added
痛改前非并成为博派的威震天 the repentant Megatron to its cast, now an Autobot,
而RID系列则将标题重新改为《变形金刚》 while ROBOTS IN DISGUISE was retitled "THE TRANSFORMERS"
以避免与2015年的新动画混淆 to avoid confusion with the new cartoon,
译注：即《领袖的挑战》。
剧情重点则转向 and shifted its focus
由擎天柱带领的一支博派小队来到地球 to Optimus Prime leading a team of Autobots to Earth
阻止惊破天阴谋夺取 to thwart Galvatron's plans for
可以创造组合金刚的组合秘宝 the combiner-creating Enigma of Combination.
尽管MTMTE系列和RID系列 Though MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE and ROBOTS IN DISGUISE
在2016年晚些时候的第57期后一同走向了终结 came to an end in late 2016 after 57 issues a piece,
但随后又以同样的编剧阵容重新起航 they were immediately relaunched under the same writers
分别以《寻光之旅》和《擎天柱》的标题从第1期开始连载 with new #1s as LOST LIGHT and OPTIMUS PRIME, respectively.
前者继续讲述补天士和同伴们的故事 The former follows Rodimus and co
他们试图从反叛者手中夺回与本系列同名的飞船 as they attempt to retake the eponymous spaceship from mutineers,
后者则重点讲述 while the latter focuses on
擎天柱将地球纳入塞伯坦帝国 the fallout of Optimus Prime's controversial decision
这一富有争议性的决定所带来的后续影响 to annex Earth into the Cybertronian empire,
两个系列直至2017年夏季仍在连载 and both are still ongoing as of summer 2017.
第二阶段的双主线连载过程中 The existence of two ongoing series in Phase 2
也发生了几次联动事件 has allowed for several crossovers,
它们通常是作为捆绑宣传手段 often in the form of a tie-in promotion
来推销“经典系列（Generations）”玩具 with the Transformers Generations toyline,
其中包括《黑暗塞伯坦》、 and have included DARK CYBERTRON,
《组合金刚之战》、 COMBINER WARS,
《泰坦归来》 TITANS RETURN,
以及《革命》 and REVOLUTION,
还有计划于2017年夏季推出的《先发制人》 with another, FIRST STRIKE, set for summer 2017.
第一篇联动中引入了风刃 The first of these introduced WINDBLADE,
她是由孩之宝迷友票选活动创造出的原创角色 an original character created via a Hasbro fan poll,
她独一无二的身份令她衍生出了 whose unique status saw her spun off
一系列专属的短篇系列 into a series of limited-run titles of her own
全部由玛格丽特·斯考特创作 all written by Mairghread Scott,
包括《风刃》第1卷和第2卷 including WINDBLADE Vols 1 and 2,
还有《万众一心》 and TILL ALL ARE ONE,
在塞伯坦星球上发生的一系列事件中 which followed events on Cybertron
这位主人公与红蜘蛛进行政斗 as the title character matched political wits with Starscream,
并且协助重建了塞伯坦 and helped re-establish contact
与众多殖民地世界的联系 with the planet's many colony worlds.
第二阶段作为补充的短篇系列也是非常的多 Supplementary mini-series for Phase 2 have been extensive,
包括“独裁三部曲”—— and include AUTOCRACY TRILOGY,
译注：即《独裁（Autocracy）》、《畸变（Monstrosity）》和《至尊（Primacy）》。
这三个系列探寻了 three series that explored
博狂大战之初的故事 the very beginning of the Autobot Decepticon war -
和“机器恐龙三部曲”—— and the DINOBOT TRILOGY of
《惩罚》、《救赎》和《拯救》 Punishment, Redemption, and Salvation,
故事主角是特立独行的机器恐龙们 focusing on the outcast Dinobots.
同时还有短暂回归的《支线》系列 the Spotlight format briefly return
来作为《黑暗塞伯坦》前奏的一部分 as part of the prelude to DARK CYBERTRON,
而短篇《漂移》和《雷霆拯救令》也都有了口碑不错的后续—— And both DRIFT and LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS have enjoyed sequels
《漂移：岩石帝国》和《雷霆拯救队之罪》 in a form of DRIFT: EMPIRE OF STONE and SINS OF THE WRECKERS
所以我们该从哪开始阅读呢？ So where do we start?
漫画的各个发展时期我都列在了这里： Each of the various eras that I've laid out here -
福尔曼时期 Furman's run,
麦卡锡的《威震天万岁》时期 McCarthy's "All Hail Megatron,"
科斯塔的OM时期 Costa's ongoing,
还有MTMTE和RID的双线连载 and the launch (and the subsequent relaunch)
以及后面的换标题续篇时期 of MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE and ROBOTS IN DISGUISE -
这些不同时期都被设作是一次“软重启”或“剧情跃迁点” was designed as a "soft reboot" or "jumping-on point"
新读者可以从这里入手 where new readers could start,
所以如果我前面讲的能吊起你的胃口了 so if any of what I've described sounds interesting to you,
那么它们都可以作为合适的阅读起点 they each represent a decent starting point.
如果你还不准备一头扎进漫画堆 If you're not ready to dive headlong into these books
如果你还下不了决心 If you're not ready to commit
去整套地去补习和追番 to a multi-volume or ongoing story alike
如果你只想找个独立篇来看看 If you're just want a standalone read,
那么《雷霆拯救令》无疑是 LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS is easily
第一阶段中最受欢迎的独立短篇 the single most popular mini-series from the Phase 1 era,
这篇不仅会令你充分领略到 and will give you a good taste of
MTMTE系列的风格 the flavour of MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE,
还引入了一些人物 提到了一些剧情要点 as well as introducing some characters and plot points
这些都将会在MTMTE系列里再度出现 that will reappear in that series.
尽管有许多早期故事的平装合订本已经绝版 Though a lot of the original individual trade paperbacks are out of print,
但IDW目录中的大部分漫画都还是可以买到电子版的 Almost all of IDW's catalogue remains available digitally,
你感兴趣的每一个独立故事都是可以轻易读到的 making any individual story that catches your eye easy to check out.
不过 某些剧情跃迁点确实要比其他的更适合作为阅读切入点 However, some jumping-on points ARE better than others,
如果你真的想笨猪跳般 and if you really want to dive in head first down,
跳进IDW宇宙作深度探究 really dug into the IDW universe,
那么你要考虑的切入点就只有两个—— there are only two you need to look at -
第一阶段的开始 the start of Phase 1,
或者第二阶段的开始 or the start of Phase 2.
尽管《寻光之旅》和《擎天柱》 As inviting as those new #1s on the cover
也是从全新的第1集开始连载 似乎很吸引人 of LOST LIGHT and OPTIMUS PRIME might look,
但他们确实还是之前双主线的直属续篇 they really are direct continuations of the books that came before them.
如果你想领略大家当下正在热烈讨论的剧情 If you want to experience the stories that everybody is raving about,
那就从第二阶段开始 start with Phase 2,
从MTMTE第一卷开始 beginning with More than Meets the Eye Volume 1.
如果你想全都读下来 并充分了解 If you want the whole package and full context
在第二阶段中会遇到的人物以及剧情的来龙去脉 for the characters and continuity you'll encounter in Phase 2,
那就从第一阶段开始！ start with Phase 1!
听上去我好像说得有点漫不经心 It sounds like I'm making light,
但的确就是这么简单！ but it really is that simple!
整个第一阶段目前还能买到 The entirety of Phase 1 is available
八册版的“IDW收藏版”精装合集 in eight omnibus "IDW Collection" hardcovers,
可以一股脑地收齐 a neat and tidy way of acquiring it all.
第二阶段目前只有一部分漫画 Well, only about a quarter of Phase 2
以精装合集的形式发行了 has been collected in that format,
不过全部MTMTE和RID漫画 but the complete MORE THAN AMEETS THE EYE and ROBOTS IN DISGUISE
已经分别以十册平装合订本的形式出全了 is all available in ten paperback volumes each,
此外还有一些短篇、外传 with separate volumes for the various mini-series,
和联动故事的独立合订本等等 spins-offs, and crossovers.
不过还要提醒最后一句—— But, a final word of caution -
如果你打算从第二阶段开始读 if you're going to start with Phase 2,
詹姆斯·罗伯茨在科斯塔的OM系列里创作的两集—— James Roberts's aforementioned 2 issues from the Costa ongoing -
即第22、23两集 issues #22 and #23,
标题为“混沌理论”的上下集故事 a two-part story titled "Chaos Theory" -
与MTMTE后半段故事有关联 所以也需要阅读 are required reading for the second half of More than Meets the Eye.
视频原作者：Chris McFeely
翻译： Freccia LamAtek The_S_Guy